“Peace be with you” (John 20:19); “Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace which the world cannot give, this is my gift to you” (John 14:27).
Blessed be God, the all merciful and compassionate. Compatriots, I call to mind these words today, familiar to both Christians and Muslims, as I make an appeal to each person today to remain calm and to can inflame situations of violence. These deeds including actions that involve physical violence but they also include words that inflame passions and foster mistrust, suspicion and hatred. Rumor mongering can cause more deaths than the sword and AK47. As members of one nation, people created in the divine image, we must seek ways of understanding, of building bridges to one another based on a solid foundation of truth.
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As a leader within the Body of Christ, I make this appeal in particular to Christians. As followers of God who took on human nature to reconcile fallen humanity to the Father and to one another; who offered himself in ransom for many and forgave even as he hung on the cross (cf. Luke 23:34 challenges all his followers to take up their cross and come after him (cf. Mark 8:34). This is no easy task but it is the challenge and demand of our faith, difficult as it is.
We are not oblivious of the pain that has been caused by the loss of loved ones, both Christian and Muslim, and we wish to assure families of the dead and injured that we share in their loss and pray for the dead and those injured. At the same time we ask that all reflect on the reality that violence only begets more violence. This suffering has gone on for too long and we beg that it be stopped for the common good. Permit me to paraphrase the words of St. Oscar Romero, recently canonized: “I beg you in the name of God to stop the killing.”
Let me also use this medium to thank and commend the security for their quick intervention in bringing the situation under control, especially, in Kaduna Metropolis. We assured them of our continued spiritual closeness as they work hard to protect one and all.
May God bless our dear country Nigeria and guide our leaders to find the way to true justice and peace. Thank you very much for your kind attention and anticipated cooperation.
Most Rev. Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso
Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna.
Study @ Achievers University
